kirisute wrote:just as a qeuestion Moon...surely martial art and philosophy go hand in hand...after all...Jutso, art,...is a bonding of mind and body into one state of consciousness....

Absolutely...for those who are practicing martial artists,I'm sure that's very true but as someone who only has an interest in Bushido through ongoing amateur historical studies of Nippon-to,it's not really of any significance to me personally.
You'll not find many posts in 'Fudoshin' from me,except the replies I've made to some of the absurd claims made there and many of those were deleted during the Forum 'crash' about a year or so ago.
Hence the second line in my sig'.

Hey Big Jon,
whats going on over at tanith? I've not been able to get on it for ages?

Aaannywayyyyy.....i like your point about what Iwata sensei said. I was there buddy, at one of his seminars in Leeds when he proclaimed his intention to rename the art. My sensei in iai and aikijujutsu is one of Iwata sensei's favourite gaijin and he's an excellent mentor and friend...at 72 years young.

As regards the OP, i think its daft, irresponsible and dangerous to start off with shinken. Soldiers don't get given a live weapon as soon as they join the army. Why would some n00b be given a 3ft razor when they first step into a dojo and learn how to hold a sword?

They very fact that someone is taking up iai should point towards them being of a certain nature and holding respect for both sword and art itself. You don't often get wannabe's trying out iai, because they want "to cut sh*t up!"

Progressive training is the way, as it is with all MA's. Currently at shodan level in kendo i don't expect to understand or be taught yondan-waza yet.
Much the same for a yellow belt in karate wouldn't expect to be shown black belt techniques.

Seeing as the OP mentioned aikido. It took me 10 years to reach my shodan through progressive 'experience', a lot of this was off the tatami whilst injured. But when i came back, my aikido and my spirit were so much stronger and better for it.

Iai is the hardest MA i've ever studied, mentally its so draining. IMHO, bokuto > iaito > shinken (maybe)
I do, however believe than tameshigiri is an integral part of senior practice. It will certainly test your cuts in the truest form.
Bear in mind also that iaito are a lot lighter than shinken so adjustment traning would be needed as well.
I've skewered myself once with my iaito, but not yet with the shinken. Just about everyone i know has sliced the webbing of their left hands at one stage or another.

thanks for you input...and i understand exactly where your coming from....
as i originally stated a few posts back...this wasnt meant to offend anybody or start an argument....simply a discussion of viewpoints....

your correct alot of people dont even realise Iai exists until they have studied or followed the martial arts for a number of years.....it does tend to be a follow on from sword techniques taught in Aikido or Karate.....the gradual path of a student finding a new road to follow........

I suppose, although after 10 years of aiki-ken, my swordwork looked totally barbaric compared to the graceful movements i learned in iai.
I'm now more focussed on kendo and again the cuts are slightly different. Although more akin to seitei style than Iwata's smooth Eishin ryu cuts.

Banzai Joe wrote:Hey Big Jon,
whats going on over at tanith? I've not been able to get on it for ages?

Aaannywayyyyy.....i like your point about what Iwata sensei said. I was there buddy, at one of his seminars in Leeds when he proclaimed his intention to rename the art. My sensei in iai and aikijujutsu is one of Iwata sensei's favourite gaijin and he's an excellent mentor and friend...at 72 years young.

F*ck me...it's the Mad Marine.
How ya doing Kev?
Nowt wrong on tanith afaik mate...I take a peek most days with no problem.
It was you who told me about Iwata sensei's proclamation when I recommended a guy to the 4 Dragons dojo in Leeds who lived close by and was looking for somewhere to start and I wrongfully called it Iaido.
Good to see you back again man...I mean it,don't leave it so long next time.

buddy i wouldnt have the faintest idea how to contact him anyway! LOL....
but dont worry...until i hear from Loz i wont do anything...if i dont hear anything..nothing happens plain and simple....
i respect BUK too much to cross them....

Hi kirisute,
sure I understand.
This is sooo weird,cause Lawrence told me to contact you here through the site,actually,I just spoke again to him???anyway he says he will sort it out?have you checked your private messages?
Later